Here we are in the second month of the year and we as a Council are certainly looking forward to and making the final preparations for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade next month. But on the 1st Day of February the Church also remembers another of Ireland’s great Saints, St. Brigid. Next to St. Patrick, she is the most revered Saint in Ireland (or so I am told). At or about 453 AD a child was born between Dubhtach and one of his Christian Slaves Brocessa. They named her Brigid (which was the name of an ancient Druid goddess, and as the legend tells us she was sent to be a vestal virgin in service to this goddess, and she became high priestess at the Kil Dara (the temple of the oak). As the story continues, this was all to change, as she and all those who were serving the pagan goddess left the false beliefs and embraced the One, True God. This probably came about from her study and her mother’s strong Christian faith. Brigid changed the pagan sanctuary into a Christian Shrine and changed the perpetual ritual fire to the Druid gods to a perpetual fire dedicated to Christ the true light of the world.

The saint’s wisdom and generosity became legend and people traveled from all over the country to seek her wisdom. Her monastery established at Kildare became one of the greatest centers of learning in Europe. She continued her holy and charitable work until her death in 526 AD, where she was laid to rest in Kil Dara. However, later on, out of fear of the Norse Invaders, her remains were moved to the same grave which holds St. Patrick and St. Columcille at Down Patrick. One of the symbols associated with St. Brigid is the Cross she was supposed to have fashioned out of the rushes from the river bank to show the passion of Christ on the Cross to a dying pagan; some believe that person was her father. So as we get ready to remember Patrick next month, let us not forget Brigid.

As we continue our look at the New Translation of the Mass, I would like to focus on the Presentation of the Gifts (also known as the Offertory). The change you will notice are the words the Priest will say when he offers up the Bread and the Wine. He will say, “Blessed are you. Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” Your response (for both the Bread and the Wine) will still be “Blessed is God for ever.” Then he will say, “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.” The reason we will say this, is to better express that we have received theses gifts from God in one form, and we are offering them back so they ill become something greater through His action.

The other change will be seen with the Invitation to Prayer. The priest now says, “Pray brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the almighty Father.” Your response is the same only we now say the words, “holy church.” The addition of the words my sacrifice and yours, is indeed keeping with the Latin Text, and it tells us that more than one sacrifice is being offered. While it is true that the Mass is a single sacrifice offered by all present, it is also true that each member of the assembly is offering a sacrifice in keeping with his or her role. But nonetheless, we are all participating in the one sacrifice of Christ.

Don’t forget: this month Lent begins and we will begin our journey toward Easter; the greatest day of the year.

Happy Lent-
Fr. Mike